Barcelona (Spain): All Barcelona needed was a draw to advance to the Champions League final. And it did just that, drew 0-0 with AC Milan in front of a sold-out 95,000-strong crowd at Camp Nou stadium.
With the draw, Barcelona reached the finals with 1-0 on aggregate. Barcelona will now play Arsenal at the Stade de France in Paris on May 17.
"We did the job we had to do and I'm very happy to be in the final,"Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard said.
Wednesday's match had a bright start with Milan midfielder Kaka shooting just wide in the first minute after being released by defender Jaap Stam.
Barcelona, playing in its 100th Champions League game, almost scored two minutes later but Dida dived to block a shot from Eto'o.
With Deco, who missed the first game through suspension, supported by midfielder Andres Iniesta, Barcelona dominated the first half. Eto'o missed a chance in the 16th when Dida foiled him again.
Milan goalkeeper Dida made two one-on-one saves to deny Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o in the first half and managed another block on a header from reserve forward Henrik Larsson after halftime.
Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko had a goal disallowed in the 69th minute for a foul on Barcelona captain and defender Carles Puyol.
"The Shevchenko goal was absolutely legal. He jumped and hardly touched Puyol," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "Barcelona played well, but the match was always in the balance and we were close to the final."
"I didn't think anything about it other than that it was disallowed," said the Barcelona coach.
Barcelona has made five finals for one European Cup win, 1-0 against Sampdoria in 1992 while Arsenal has never played in a Champions League title match before.
"They (Barcelona) have better chances," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. "I think we have a chance and let's prepare well. If you are capable of grabbing your chance you can win the final."
"We want to make it our destiny, of course," Wenger added.
Rijkaard dismissed suggestions that Barcelona would be the favorite in the final. "Not at all," he said. "You can't talk of favourites. Both teams are there because they worked hard to get there."
The Dutchman, who won the Champions League in 1995 with Ajax and European Cups in 1989-90 with Milan, said he respected Arsenal.
"I think they did a great job and have had a great season," Rijkaard said. "They deserve to be in the final and will be a strong opponent."
Frank Rijkaard's team is close to repeating its 1992 achievement _ the Spanish and European double _ for only the second time in the club's 106-year history. Barcelona is almost virtually certain of retaining its Spanish league title.
Wednesday's result went towards avenging Barcelona's 4-0 loss to Milan in the 1994 final.
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